this is a really unique instrument. It's not a hollowbodied jazz guitar, and it's not an ES- 335 clone. It's something of its own... a very versatile instrument that can handle a variety of styles from rock through blues through jazz. The feedback resistance is phenomenal compared to a lot of archtops and semi-hollows. The dimarzios are very versatile pickups. The guitar is constructed solidly, and it can take a beating. This is a guitar for the working session player. I've owned hofner archtops and a gibson ES-335... if this thing were stolen I'd buy another right away.

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5 Stars Move out of the way ES335 By Stringman-1yASP from North Carolina

I've been playing for over 25yrs and have played every type of guitar you could think of, And still own Gibson 335,PRS,Strat,Tele,Ibanez 105,G&L but none that I could use for everything but this guitar. I take two guitars to the studio the Yamaha and a Strat the strat just in case but other than that my guitars collect dust. Nothing to say bad about this guitar. You can't go wrong with this guitar.

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5 Stars Outstanding!!! By TreR69 from SE Oklahoma

I was a diehard Strat player for 15 years...THEN my boss brought his AES1500 to me and asked if I was interesed in buying it from him, and honestly I wasn't interested. Not my style. He said take it home for a week or two and just play it. With nothing to loose I agreed. Upon getting it home and plugging it in my jaw dropped! I couldn't believe what an incredible instrument it is...it was like driving a fine Italian sports car, it responded perfectly to everything I would ask it to do...and with undleieveable tone! NExt I got on the web to learn more about the AES and that is when I found out how expensive it is...no way I could spend that much on a guitar (wife would KILL me). Reluctantly I took it back several days later...he must have really needed to sell it though, because he immediately came down to $1,500. Needless to say, I now own it and only pick up my Strat to move it out of the way. It is a big instrument and I am still getting used to it. The fretboard is fairly large and the neck is moderatly deep, but it a such an easy instrument to play...solos are a breeze on here. Whereas on my strat I always felt like I was fighting the neck, here the strings and frets are right where they should be. It just feels right. The pickups can be brutal...particularly the bridge PU. In humbucker mode, when piped through a saturated tube preamp they absolutely seeth with power. When clean, they are extremely well balanced: big smooth bass, punchy mids and a bright high end. In single coil they sound good by themselves but when mixed together the tone isn't particularly unique (that is probably why Fender doesn't typically include a setting for the neck and bridge PUs together!) All in all, it is an incredible instrument...check one out.

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5 Stars A versatile workhorse By WarrenJBuntz from Wellsville, NY

Our band covers blues, rock, jazz and even some country and bluegrass and this guitar handles it all. It has a broad range of tones available thanks to the split humbuckers... from warm and thick to edgy twang, and the action is faster than all other archtops I've played. I bought a Gretsch 6196 (my dream guitar) but it can't compare to the AES-1500 for sheer versatility.

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5 Stars I passed up a Chet Atkins for this axe!! By Slickpicker-A09nZ from Lanesville, IN

It was between this guitar and a Gibson Chet Atkins. Being a GINORMOUS Chet fan, I thought it was a no-brainer. And then a local legend guitarist I respect and admire bought the Yamaha! I was bamboozled at how he could commit such thumb picking blasphemy! He handed it to me and said, "Try it out." I was amazed at the versatility and playability this guitar presented to me! The Q100 p'ups are superior to many others out there. They are hotter than most you here in a guitar like this, yet they don't feedback excessively. As a matter of fact, this was my stage axe when I played out during my Grunge cover days, and it never really fedback at me much at all! Add the idea of a REALLY good'n'twangy single coil sound in the bridge AND neck positions, and you can play all the Johnny Cash and Waylon (the majority of my current playing)you want and never be disappointed. This axe has survived a little over 15 years of gigging out with nary a problem save for a short in the electronics (p'up selector) when I first got it.I would weep if anything ever happened to this guitar. It is a guitar that deserves many more accolades than I've ever heard about it. Yamaha has created a true classic with this instrument!! You will NOT be disappointed!

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5 Stars Its changed the way I play!! By Fatty--oAJ1 from Sorrento, VIC, Australia

Like everybody else, I love this guitar. I bought it from my guitar teacher....who now wants it back!! No way. I came from a metal playing background....into blues and now into rockabilly. Honestly, this guitar is harder to play than my Jackson but the vocal tone is where it comes into its own. Ive never experienced anything like it. From a tinny sharp sound to a THICK THICK blues sound..... I love it.......its changed the way I play... Get one!!

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5 Stars You Have To Love It By Oldies for You from New Jersey

I have the Yamaha (AE 1200S) Had it now for 25 year's. I had every guitar you can think of and